The Firebird Flash
May 6, 2022
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Principal's Update
- Mark your Calendar!
- Summer Football
- Re-Think Energy Drinks
- Basketball Skills Camp
- Firebird Staff Features
- 8th Grade: AP & Honors Info
- 8th Grade: FHS Band & Color Guard Info
- Lost and Found
- Campus Construction
- Question of the Week
- Career & College Opportunities
- PTSA
- Purchase Firebird Gear
Updates from our Principal
Greetings Firebird Nation Families -
We made it to another Friday! We have just 3 weeks left to go for the 21-22 school year...we can do this!
I wanted to thank everyone for their support and kindness this week for Staff Appreciation week. It was awesome to see so many students and families bringing in gifts, thank-you notes, and treats for our hard working teachers and staff. Thank you Firebird Nation Families! We appreciate your support of Falcon Middle School!
Thank you also to our FMS Staff for all of their hard work this year. It has been a year unlike any other, and I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication to providing a great experience for our students. It has been awesome to see all of the time and effort our teachers and staff have put into their classrooms and work areas to keep Firebird Nation awesome! Thank you for all you do every day! I also want to give a special shout out to the front office team for all of their time and effort to planning special events each day for our teacher and staff appreciation week; you all did an outstanding job!
As we approach the end of the year, teams will be scheduling Locker Clean Out and Chromebook check in. This is a time to encourage your student to start bringing home items from their locker that they do not need at school anymore. I also want to reiterate the importance of students double checking the lost and found for any other items as well; items remaining will be donated over the summer. We will also be scheduling chromebook check in as well. Students should make sure their chromebooks are cleaned up, chargers are located, and are ready to return in the last couple of weeks of school. We will be sharing a schedule for this process with teams soon.
Just a reminder, next week is only a 4-day week for students as we have a staff professional development day on Friday, May 13th. We also have quite a few events coming up including productions, concerts, ceremonies, etc. Please check our "Mark You Calendar" section below. Also, Thursday, May 26th, is the last day for 8th grade students. Friday, May 27th, is a half day of school for 6th and 7th grades only; FMS will end the day at 12:00pm that day. D49 Transportation will be running at the early release times.
Our Softball team has been playing well in the league tournament and has another round of playoff competition coming up here soon. Our Track team also competes this weekend in the League Track Championship Meet. Our 6th grade Gridiron Warrior Football program has wrapped up for the year and these players are excited for 7th grade football next year. Overall, our Firebird Athletes continue to perform well as they close out the final seasons of the year.
I hope everyone has a great weekend! Let's continue to work together, ensure our school work is getting all turned in, and keep our behaviors in check as we wrap up these final weeks of the year!
Sincerely,
Brian Smith
Executive Principal
Falcon Middle School
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Mark Your Calendar
MAY
11: School Nurse Appreciation Day
12: FMS/FHS Choir Concert, 6pm @ FHS
13: No School for Students due to Professional Development Day
16: PTSA Meeting, 5:30pm in the Learning Commons
18: National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Induction, 6pm
19: FMS Band Concert, 6pm
26: Falcon High School Graduation, 8am
26: FMS 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 5pm
27: Last Day of School, Early Release at 12pm
30: FMS Office Closed in honor of Memorial Day
Check the FMS website calendar often for the most up-to-date information.
All dates/events are subject to change.
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From Nurse Nelda
Firebird Features
Autumn Ruiz - 6th Grade Gold Writing
What is your favorite part of your job?
Building relationships with my students and watching learn and grow throughout the year.
Tell us about yourself:
Reading, writing, swimming, painting, dog agility course training, traveling.
What is something unique about you?
I have a total of 8 siblings.
Highlight something awesome going on in your work area/classroom?
My students are really enjoying the narrative writing unit.
Fawn Copeland - 8th Grade Gold Science Teacher
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of teaching is the interactions with students. I love learning about everyone's interests and helping them to discover their inner scientist. All of the students grow and change so much during the year. It is a privilege to be part of their 8th grade journey!
Tell us about yourself:
Some of my hobbies include reading, sports and traveling with my family. I love to read whenever I have downtime. My favorite sports are baseball and football, and I am a huge Dodgers fan.
Highlight something awesome going on in your work area/classroom?
We are finishing the year with chemical reactions and rockets. Hopefully we will be able to launch rockets at the end of the school year.
Jessica Gregory - 7th Grade Gold Writing Teacher
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of working at FMS is developing relationships with students; listening to them, enjoying their humor, watching them grow, and encouraging them to succeed.
Tell us about yourself:
In our spare time, we enjoy to hiking and traveling as a family. I also love to read.
What is something unique about you?
I am currently working on my Ph.D., focusing on the implementation of trauma informed practices in education.
Highlight something awesome going on in your work area/classroom?
We are beginning to work on understanding utopian and dystopian societies. We are looking at examples from real life and literature as well as pop culture (movies, tv, video games).
8th Graders: FHS AP & Honors
Students and Parents:
If a student is planning to enroll in the Advanced Placement (A.P.) and Honors Program at Falcon High School, it is important that the student and a parent or guardian attend the A.P./Honors Information Night at Falcon High School, on 18 May 2022. The meeting starts promptly at 6pm in the auditorium, so please plan to be there a little earlier to get a seat and avoid missing any critical information.
The event will include A.P./Honors teachers, counselors, and various Administrators. Teachers will explain their specific A.P. and Honors courses. This will include topics and expectations, as well as suggested summer preparations. The admissions process for some courses will be explained, as well. Counselors will explain the GPA points systems for both. After the course description segment, parents and students will be able to meet with teachers in order to talk more individually.
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to find out information about the courses they plan to attend next year, and the courses they may want to take later in their high school careers. Since counselors will be available, parents and students can also discuss future concerns and ask questions about other courses.
If you have any questions about this important evening, please feel free to contact Ms. Lopez at klopez@d49.org.
We look forward to meeting all of you!
--Teaching Staff of Falcon High School
8th Graders: FHS Band & Color Guard
In preparation for next year, the FHS marching band & color guard have set up an intent form to get an idea of who is interested in joining the band. We are including it here to give all 8th grade students the opportunity to join this group. If you have played an instrument before, this is a great time to stay in/get back into band and make some new friends. If you aren't interested in band but are interested in joining color guard we invite you to fill out the form as well! Please complete and submit this form ASAP if you have interest and/or intend on joining
If you have any questions, please contact either Mr. Smart (jsmart@d49.org) or Mr. Yager (tyager@d49.org)
We have many items in the Lost & Found, including electronics and many pairs of eyeglasses. Ask the front office for these smaller items if you are missing something.
FIREBIRD NATION CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION
This has been a very productive week with our expansion. Almost all of the concrete foundation walls are complete. The areas have all been backfilled. The masonry on the interior wall is ongoing and they are now into the 2nd story height. Metal frames for doors and windows have arrived and are being installed as the masonry work continues.
What ideas do you have for serving your community?
OTHER CAREER AND COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES
Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Teen Academy
2022 Teen Academy Scheduled for June 13 - June 1
The Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Teen Academy provides young adults with a unique opportunity to learn about the operations of regional law enforcement agencies in El Paso County. The Colorado Springs Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office are the host agencies for this 4-day class. Some of the courses will include SWAT, K-9, Explosives Unit, criminal investigations, drone presentation, search and rescue, and negotiator training.
Interested applicants must be between the ages of 13-17 to attend the class. Applicants must be El Paso County residents and currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a school in El Paso County. Please note a “Academy Participation Liability Waiver and Indemnification Agreement” must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public. Notary Public services for the Teen Academy may be obtained at any of the Colorado Springs Police Department police stations at no cost. For additional information or questions, please contact the CSPD Community Relations Unit at 719-444-7410.
Falcon Middle School Students may contact Ms.Siemsen with any further questions.
Our next PTSA Meeting is May 16 at 5:30pm. Please join us in the Learning Commons!
It's not too late to join the Parent Teacher Student Association! Dues are just $8 for the year. You may pay at the office or online at: https://falconmsptsa.memberhub.com/store
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Looking for Firebird Gear?
Falcon Middle School
6th Grade Assistant Principal/Athletic Director: Elena Forehand
7th Grade Assistant Principal: Tim Scheck
8th Grade Assistant Principal: Joy Kovanda
6th Grade Counselor: Lisa Murdock
7th Grade Counselor: Carrie Clay
8th Grade Counselor: Amber Villani
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FMS Office Hours
7:15am-3:30pm
Email: fms@d49.org
Website: https://www.d49.org/fms
Location: 9755 Towner Avenue, Peyton, CO, USA
Phone: 719-495-5232